Feedeeic schaepee



(No Model.)

.- P. SOHAEFER.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FREDERIG SOHAEFER, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNO R, BY DIRECT AND MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO LEOPOLD SOHLEGELMILGH, TRUSTEE, OF

SAME PLACE.

SPBCIPICATIQN forming part of Letters Patent No. 322,857, dated July 21, 1885.

Application filed November 26, 1884.

T all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, FRnDERIc SCHAEFER, of Boston, county of Suffolk, State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Electric Switches, of which the following-description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like letters on the drawings representing like parts.

My invention relates to an electric switch for opening and closing an electric circuit, it being specially adapted for use in connection with a fixture or bracket for incandescent lamps. The operative parts of the switch are inclosed in a shell or case provided with screwthreaded fittings for connecting it with the bracket or tubing through which the conducting-wires pass, the said switch being provided with plates supported on a block of insulating material, and provided with contact-pieces having yielding uprights, the said plates be ing adapted to be connected with the portions of a wire passing through the tube in either direction from the switch. The circuit is completed between the said yielding uprights or is opened, as may be desired, by means of a movable connecting-piece fastened to a pivoted spindle or key provided with a handle to be turned by the operator, the said connecting piece being substantially at right angles to the o saidspindleand adaptedtobeplacedinan intermediate position betweenthe said yielding uprights,leaving them entirely disconnected,or to be placed in contact with both of them,con1- pleting the circuit between them. Suitable 5 shoulders or stops are provided to limit the movement of the movable connecting-piece, one of the said stops consisting of a shoulder on one of the stationary yielding uprights and the other consisting of a shoulder at the 40 end of a curvedarm atone end of the movable connecting-piece.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a switch embodying this invention; Fig. 2, a plan view of the operative portions of the switch, the

cap or cover of the inclosing-case being removed, and Fig. 3 a longitudinal section thereof on line 00 w.

The circuit controlling portions of the switch are inclosed in a metallic case or shell,

a, provided with a removable cap or cover, b,

(No model.)

stationary but somewhat yielding upright pieces h h, which thus form the terminals of the circuit,which may be completed between the said yielding uprights h h when desired by a movable connecting-piece, i, attached to a spindle, is, having a rotary movement in a socket in the insulating-block f midway between the said yielding uprights h h, the end of the said spindle being slotted, as shown at Fig. 3, to receive the connecting-piecei,which is securely fastened to the said spindle by a nut, m, screwed onto the end of the said spindle and engaging the said movable connectingpiece i,which is preferably made of copper, on account of its high conductivity. The spindle 7c is provided with a suitable handle, to enable it to be turned, and ,when in the position shown in Figs. 2 and 3 the connecting piece 2' extends directly across between the yielding uprights h h, making electrical connection between them, and by a quarter-rotation of the said spindle the connecting-piece i will be removed from the yielding upright h, thus breaking the circuit between h and h. The movement of the connecting-piece t by the key or handle 70 in either direction to open or close the circuit, as may be desired, is limited by suitable stops, one of which consists of a shoulder, h or flange at the edge of the yield ing upright h, which by its engagement with the end of the connecting-piece t prevents further-rotation thereof when moved to close the circuit. The other end of the connectingpiece '5 is provided with a curved arm, t,having at its end a shoulder or projection, t, which, when the said connecting piece is turned a quarter-rotation from the position shown in Fig.1, in order to break the circuit,

engages the edge of the yielding upright h, preventing further rotation of the connectingpiece. The pressure of the yielding uprights h h against the ends of the connecting-piece t produces considerable friction, tending to resist the movement thereof when the key is turned by the operator, and when the operator in turning the key to break the circuit moves the end of the connecting-piece from the yielding upright h the sudden reduction in pressure will cause the said connecting-piece to move quickly away from the stationary yielding upright, thus breaking the circuit suddenly and completely, as is desired. The cover I; affords access to the operative portions of the switch, so that they may be readily adjusted or covered.

I claim-- 1. An inclosing-case, an insulating-block therein, and contact pieces supported on the said block, each provided with a yielding upright, combined with the actuating-spindle pivoted between the contact-pieces and provided with a connecting-piece one arm of which engages one of the yielding uprights, and'the other arm provided with a curved portion forces the second yielding upright from its normal position when the spindle is turned to break the circuit, the said yielding upright holding the connecting-piece in a given position in open circuit until the said spindle is positively moved to close the circuit, substantially as described.

2. The inclosing-case and insulated block secured therein,the said block having contactpieces rigidly attached thereto and provided with yielding uprights, one of the said uprights having a shoulder, combined with the actuating-spindle provided with a connectingpiece having one arm engaging the shouldered upright to close the circuit, and a second arm. provided with a curved finger having a projection, the said curved finger engaging the second yielding upright when the circuit is closed, and forcing the said yielding upright from its normal position, being held in engagement therewith by'the action of the said yielding upright when the circuit is opened, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

3. An inclosing-case provided with contact- 0 pieces, combined with an actuating-spindle having a key at its loose end and being provided with screw-threads and a transverse slot, 2, and the retaining-nut, and a connecting-piece to engage the yielding uprights of the contact-pieces, the said connecting-piece resting in the slotted end of the spindle, substantially as described.

In testimony whereofI have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

FREDERIO SOHAEFER.

Witnesses:

J os. P. LIvERMoRE, W. H. SIGsToN. 

